Olpe 26, Jackson Heights 6

Jackson Heights had opportunities against the defending 2A Champs on Friday night at Olpe, but the Cobras missed a couple great opportunities to score and turned the ball over three times before ending the curtain closed on their best football season since 2002.  

On the opening drive of the game, Jackson Heights drove 20 plays and took 10 minutes off the clock while converting on a trio of fourth down plays, but ultimately throw an interception at the Olpe five-yard-line on another fourth down snap.  The Eagles drove quickly the other way, but also threw a redzone interception as Brady Holliday kept the game scoreless with the INT.  After the Cobras stalled their second drive at midfield, Olpe opened the scoring on a four play, 41 yard-drive as Ryker Schmidt found Damon Schmidt for a 12-yard touchdown pass.  Jackson Heights went on another 11 play drive before halftime, but punted late and then kept Olpe out of the endzone in the final 1:24 to stay with 7-0 at halftime.  

Yet, the Cobras fumbled their first two plays on the third quarter and Olpe finally capitalied after a fumble themselves, Dylan Redeker scored on a 13 yard run with 7:31 left in the third quarter. Jackson Heights got some life back with a 15 play drive that again included a pair of fourth down converted passes before Wyatt Olberding hit Zane Richter on a three-yard TD strike to cut the deficit to 13-6 with under a minute left in the third period.  Olpe, however, scored touchdowns on their final two possessions and Jackson Heights turned the ball over on downs their last two drives, including another missed opportunity in the redzone.  

Andrew Burenheide ran for 114 yards on 7 carries, and had a 34 yard TD to cap the scoring, while Dylan Redeker had 80 yards on 14 rushes and also led the way with 4 receptions for 71 yards and a couple scores.  The Eagles have won nine straight games and take a 9-2 record to Troy this Friday in a Sub-State rematch from a year ago.  Olpe beat Troy 36-28 on their home field in 2014.  

Jackson Heights ran for nearly 300 yards and dominated time of possession, but could not finish drives with points.  Four players finished with at least 60 yards rushing and three will be back next season.  Mason Hamilton (junior) had 83 yards on 19 carries while Wyatt Olberding (junior), Brady Holliday (sophomore) and senior Adam Brey all posted at least 60 yards.  Brey, a senior, player through a torn MCL and shoulder injury, was named the Citizens State Bank and Trust Company of Hiawatha, "Player to Bank On."  Westin Jacobsen also returned from injury to play in the Cobras playoff games, including their first playoff victory since 2002.  Senior, Zane Richter finished the game with 3 catches for 25 yards, including a touchdown, and the Cobras with 19 grabs for 401 yards on the season.  

Yet, the heart and soul and strength of the wishbone attack was four senior lineman that played both ways and enjoyed a healthy season, paving the way for a balanced backfield attack.  Named our Denison State Bank, "Lineman of the Game," were: Wyatt Roles, Caleb Sullivan, Auston Sauvage and Lance Coe.  Jackson Heights finished the season with an 8-2 record with Hamilton rushing for more than 950 yards, Holiday and Mason Thomas each posting more than 700 and Olberding running and throwing for nearly 500 yards each.